Stabilization system



April 2, 1963 Filed Oct. 25, 1960 FIG. I.

K. C. RIPLEY STABILIZATION SYSTEM '2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2

8' INVENT OR Kenneth Clay Ripley BY mfimmzm ATTORNEYS April 2, 1963 K. c. RIPLEY STABILIZATION SYSTEM 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001.- 25, 1960 IN VENTOR m wE Kenneth Clay Ripley United rates 3,083,672 Patented Apr. 2, 1963 tics 3,083,672 STABILIZATION SYSTEM Kenneth Clay Ripley, Washington, D.C., assignor to John J. McMullen Associates, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 64,933 6 Claims. (Cl. 114-125) The present invention relates to an improvement in a novel passive stabilization system for vessels, and, more particularly, to means to prevent parasitic and other destabilizing eflects in the liquid crossover duct.

It is already known that vessel stabilization against rolling can be achieved through the use of passive stabilization systems incorporating velocity squared damping. This is basically achieved by establishing spaced liquid storage points athwart the ship and interconnecting them by means of a liquid duct characterized by velocity squared damping means located at the junction of the duct with the liquid storage points. In a specific design, a pair of tanks are located on opposite sides of a vessel and are interconnected by means of a liquid crossover duct which also serves as an air interchange for the two side tanks. In this way, the air pressure above the liquid is equalized at all times at all points in the system. Nozzle designs are located at the junction points between the side tanks and the crossover duct. In a particular embodiment, the nozzle designs are simply vertical pipes located in spaced, transverse relation with reference to the side tanks and crossover duct. This system has been demonstrated to provide exceptional stabilization against rolling.

It has been noted, however, that when the crossover duct is made quite long, a deleterious effect occurs, namely, Wave action in the crossover duct tends to produce destabilizing efiects.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improvement in a passive stabilization system of the type described wherein means are provided to inhibit wave action in the crossover duct.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel improved passive stabilization system for a vessel which functions more efliciently and expediently under a greater variety of conditions than systems heretofore known.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View in vertical section of one embodiment of the novel stabilization system of the present invention taken along line 11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section of another embodiment of the novel stabilization of the present invention taken along line 33 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described. A stabilization system is shown in FIGURES l and 2 comprised of a top Wall 20, a bottom Wall 22, side walls 24 and end walls 26 which define together a completely enclosed compartment of rectangular parallelepiped configuration. Pairs of vertical pipes 30, 32, and 34 are mounted in spaced transverse relationship at intervals in the three compartments. Each pair of pipes defines a nozzle to act upon the liquid contained in the compartment to the level indicated by reference number 36 to produce velocity squared damping.

The nozzle structures defined by pipes 30 and 34 at either end of the compartment serve to divide the compartments into three main sections. The end sections, those outward of the end nozzle designs, constitute liquid storage tanks. The space between the end nozzle arrangements constitutes the liquid crossover section. The principal energy dissipation or damping occurs as the liquid is transferred into and out of the liquid crossover section due to the rolling motion of the vessel. The nozzle structure defined by pipes 32 in the center of the compartment serves as a means to dampen wave action in the liquid crossover duct section. It is designed so that it will not be a primary source of the damping, but a secondary source of the damping. In a particular design the center nozzle furnishes from about one-tenth to one-fifth of the total required damping in order not to detract too much from the damping provided by the main nozzles (pipes 30 and 34). It will be appreciated that the center nozzle can be designed for greater damping or a plurality of nozzles can be used in the liquid crossover section.

The stabilizing arrangement as described is located athwart the vessel to be stabilized between a pair of decks 52 and 54. The actual location of the stabilizing arrangement as regards elevation, etc., is a matter of design and choice. Essentially, the higher in the vessel the location of the stabilizer, the smaller it can be made. It will also be appreciated that the stabilizer may comprise a series of stacked units as well as units arranged side by side or end to end, or, alternatively, the units may be independently located altogether.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, another embodiment of the invention will be described. In this arrangement, a vessel is shown designated generally by the reference numeral 100. A pair of tanks 112 and 114 are arranged at opposite sides of the vessel 100, athwartship, and these tanks are interconnected by means of a crossover duct arrangement. More specifically, pairs of pipes 116, vertically arranged, are positioned at openings defined by the inner Wall 118 of each of the side tanks 112 and 114. Extending from each pair of vertical pipes are vertical wall sections 120 and 122. Each set of wall sections 120 and 122 diverge in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 to define in combination with their associated pair of vertical pipes 116 diverging nozzle designs. The center portion of the crossover duct is completely submerged and consists of an enclosed duct section 124 communicating the diverging nozzle areas defined by the wall sections 120 and 122 and associated pair of vertical pipes 116. The space above the enclosed duct section 124 is completed by a series of wall sections 134 which cooperate with the diverging wall sections 120 and 122 to define a liquid-tight space 126. An air duct 128 communicates the top portions of the two diverging nozzle areas in order that the air space defined by the two tanks and the diverging nozzle areas, above the liquid level 130 in these parts, is always instantaneously equalized.

In the operation of the stabilizer as described, motion of the vessel 100 will cause the liquid present in the side tanks 112 and 114 to flow back and forth in rhythm through the diverging nozzle regions and the submerged crossover duct 124 to produce a stabilizing effect upon the vessel. The use of the submerged crossover duct section 124 between the two diverging nozzle regions serves to inhibit wave action in the crossover duct. This particular design feature is advantageous in stabilizing arrangements wherein the side tanks are located quite far apart.

The enclosed space defined immediately above the submerged crossover duct section 124 can be utilized as an observation room for watching the action of the stabilizing system. To this end, the enclosure 126 may be fashioned as a passenger lounge and suitable portholes located in the bulkheads or wall sections 134 defining the enclosure.

Although the invention has been shown and described in terms of specific preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art from a knowledge of the teachings of the present invention. Such changes as are obvious are deemed to come Within the purview of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a vessel and a stabilization system therefor comprising an elongated enclosure extending transversely across said vessel, wall means compartmenting said enclosure to define a wing tank on each end of said enclosure and an interconnecting central comabove and below the level of the liquid to provide unrestricted passage for air and restricted passage for liquid, and further wall means defining a restricted opening in said central compartment spaced from said restricted vertically elongated openings.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said further wall means define a nozzle structure.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said further wall means define a submerged duct portion.

4. The combination of a vessel and a stabilization system therefor comprising, a pair of wing tanks mounted in spaced relation of opposite sides of the vessel centerline, a crossover duct interconnecting saidwingtanks, said duct and said wing tanks mutually defining restricted communicating vertically elongated openings to produce a substantial jet loss of head from liquid passing therethrough, liquid in said wing tanks and said duct at a uniform level throughout said system which level is spaced substantially below the top of said wing tanks and said duct when the system is in a repose horizontal condition, said wing tanks and said duct defining a continuous airspace, including the upper portion of said restricted communicating openings, above the level of liquid which allows for the free unrestricted exchange and equalization of air as between said wing tanks and said duct, and wall means defining a restricted opening in said crossover duct spaced from said elongated openings.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said wall means define a vertically elongated opening.

6. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said wall means define a submerged portion of the crossover duct.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,477 Oldham Apr. 16, 1912 1,054,490 Barnaby Feb. 25, 1913 2,077,143 Carroll Apr. 13, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,784 Great Britain of 1908 602,876 Germany Sept. 19, 1934 435,100 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1935 675,003 Germany Apr. 27, 1939 688,796 Germany Mar. 2, 1940 911,182 France Mar. 4, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 132,695, Hort (A.P.C.), published May 11, 1943 (now abandoned). 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A VESSEL AND A STABILIZATION SYSTEM THEREFOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ENCLOSURE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID VESSEL, WALL MEANS COMPARTMENTING SAID ENCLOSURE TO DEFINE A WING TANK ON EACH END OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND AN INTERCONNECTING CENTRAL COMPARTMENT, SAID WALL MEANS DEFINING RESTRICTED VERTICALLY ELONGATED OPENINGS COMMUNICATING SAID WING TANKS AND SAID CENTRAL COMPARTMENT WITH THE OPENINGS BEING SHAPED TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL JET LOSS OF HEAD FROM LIQUID PASSING 